Apparatus for washing coal, ore, &amp;c.



'PATENTED JAN. v, 1908.

' A. (I. DIBSOHER. APPARATUS FURW-ASHI'NG COAL, ORE, &0.

APPLICATION PILED-MAILfi, 19m.- 7

mums-4113M 1.

ENT R MAT/36,268. PATENTEI) JAN. 7, 190a.

' A. J. D'IESGHER. APPARATUS FOR WASHING coAL, ORE. &0.

APPLICATION TILBDIAB. 6, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VENT

PATEN-TED JAN. 7, 1908.

A. J. DIESOHER. APPARATUS FOR WASHING COAL, ORE, &0.

APPLIQATIOH FILED 11mm, 1907.

5 SKBETSPSHBBT s.

1701763268. PATBNTED JAN. '7,'1908.

'A. J. DIESGHER.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOAL, ORE, 6w.

APPLICATION FIIEBD KAR- 5, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: V ENTOR PATBNTBD JAN; 7, 190

A. J. DIESCHER, APPARATUS FDR WASHING GOAL, 0RE,.&o.

APPIAIOATIOH FILED HA3. 5, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

VENTOR acuu nn r i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I concern:

lie ithnown that I, ALFRED J. DIESCHER, residlng. at Pittshurg, in the county of Alleghehyandfitate of Pennsylvania, a citizen .oftheUnited States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Washing Coal, Ore, .&c.,.of which improvements the following is a'specification..

The inventiondescribed herein relates to certain improvements in apparatus for washb z 1: i v

; rTheseparation of coal, ore, etc, from impurities depends upon the difference in specific gravity between the impurities and the good material.=.ln order that this gravity separationvmay take place the coal or ore impurities-are charged upon one portion ofsaescreen arranged in a suitable tank ,olive'ssel. later is forced intermittingly up.

throughthescreen thereby lifting the coal or :OIQtQ-a-greaterm less degree and allowing it settle baclcon the screen. This move ment;.:,tenc ls to. ,canse the ore, coal, etc.,ti}

spread oven the screen towards the discharge; This movement is-facilitated by a constant flow ofwaterthrough the vessel towards the discharge. w During this agitation and movenientof the material, the heavier elements .Will inove down through the lighter elements andesejtt'lein alayer on the screen. to :..rer nove "the heavier materials suitable .trapsare arranged adjacent to the main dischargegsaid traps being connected with the chamber in-which the gravity separation .occurs by openings adjacent to the screen. Inrthe. operation of the washers now in use, file --movement of the heavier material through these openings into the traps is due toi the' pressureof the suporincumbent 11121; terial'forcing the layer on the screen into the openings. The movement of the heavier material under such conditions is slow and uncertain requiring frequent attention.

The ob ectof. the invetiond escrlbed herein is to lanaintainaa constant flow of ,water econdaryor return compart-j merits;

JIt fu i'therobiect of the invention to eausea lifting er. easing rip-of the ma terialm the-"traps so: thatsit can be acted on more 'eflctiv elyby the current flow tl'ierethrough.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Application filed March 5.1907. Serial in. 360,663.

In orde'r of the screen 3.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING COAL, ORE, 8G0;

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

elevations on planes indicated respectively by the lines IIl-II-I, 1VIV Fig. 1; Fig. -5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a double washer illustrating certain modifications of my improvement; Fig. 6 is a top plan View of one of the washers shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on a plane indicated by the line VIIVI.[ Fig. 6.

In the practice of my invention I provide a suitable tank or receptacle 1, preferably rectangular in cross section, as shown i'n-Figs. 1 and 2. A portion, preferably the upper portion of this tank or receptacle is divided into a main or central separating chamber A and two secondary or return compartments B, B, by partitions 2. Within the main compartment is arranged a screen 3 formed of wire or perforated sheet metal, and supported in position by brackets 4. Traps or receptacles 5 are formed preferably at one end of the screen adj accnt to the discharge shelf 6, over which water and washed material can pass outside of the receptacle. Openings 7 are formed through the inner walls of the traps adjacent to the screens, said openings bein controlled by gates 8, which can be move up and down, and held in position by any suitable means, as the nuts 9. Outlets 10 are formed through the partitions 2 so as .to' permit the discharge of material from the traps into the outside or secondary compartments B, B. It will be observed that the floors or bottoms of these traps are construe ted to permit of the passage of water, as for example they may be formed by ortions A plunger-11 provi ed with valves of any suitable construction and adapted toopen by. pressure of water, when" he 121 .net yyerse o the.

.'lhis.plnnger .is ingup through the coinp artn'ients B and connectedat their upperends to shaft .13, which mounted in bearings. formed-on the 14-, surroundh g eccentric-s on" the main 110 drivings'haft 1'6; Byth'is construction the er can be given the desired .up

plun leve of the water in chamber A will be raised employed,

movement within the compartment-A Guides 17'are formed on down below the screen.

' If or secured to the inner walls of the tanks for the ends of the plunger 11.

While any suitable form or construction ofvalve .may be it is preferred to. "employ that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, consisting of lates 18, arranged over the openings throug the plunger and guided in their movements by ugs 19. The upward movement of these plates or valves is controlled by straps 20' secured to the upper ends of the lugs 19. i It is preferred that the bottom of the'tank or receptacle should be inclined towards the center, or 'a common line, so that the material dropping down through the compartments B will flow into a circular channel 21 in which is arranged ascrew conveyer 22,. whereby the material can be continuously forced outward into a box 23, in which are arranged elevating buckets 24, wherebythe material can be raised and discharged into a spout 25. As is customary, the chamber or receptacle is provided with a charging shelf or spout 26, which directs the material to be washed onto the screen at the side opposite the shelf 6. In the operation of the washer, the latter is filled with Water under pressure through thesupply pipe 27 up to the levelof the shelf 6, the pipe being preferably connected to the washer at a point between the screen 3 and the upper limit of movement of the plunger 11. After thechamber has been filled with "water, material is charged through the spout 26 onto the screen, and the lungerset into 0 eration. On the upward movement of t e plunger, water is'for'ced upwardly in the compartment A, and through the screen. By this upward movement of the plunger the water in the compartments B will be lowered to a considerable extent for the reason that the openings 7 and 10 from the main 00111-7 partment A through the trap into compartments B will not permit a s cient return flow to compensate for the water drawn from compartments B on the upward movement of the lunger. As the lunger moves down the vaves 18 open so t at the plunger not displace much water in a direction to cause its flow up into'the chamber B. The

tendency of the water to lower in the comartment A during the downward movement of the plunger is prevented either wholly or to a great extent by this water flowing into the chamber A through the supply ipe 27. It follows from the proportioning of the ports 7 and 10, and the construction of the plunger, whereby little water is displaced during its downward movement, that the water in the compartment A is maintained at a hi her level than in compartments B so that t ere will be a constant flowof water throughi'the Ti and 1O intocompartments B. On

ports I upward movement of the plunger the ever above the outlet orshelf 6, and there will be a gush of water carrying the lighter elements'of the material being treated, from thechamber A. Byreason of this u ward movement of the plunger and the water carried-thereby,

any material lying up'pn the screenfwhether' 1 within or without the trapsfi's liftedoreased uniformly over the screen. In this up and and in settling will tend tospread itself down movement of the material, there .will

be a gravity separation of the elements com: posing the material, the heavier elements settling down onto the screen. As the material is discharged onto the screen immediately under the chute 26, the spreading due to the lifting of the material, will be heavier material out through the openings 7 inapile' into the traps. As by my construction there will be a constant flow of water from the main portion of the chamber through the openings 7, this movement of the materials willbe "accelerated. At each upward move ment of the plunger, water will be forced through the portions of the screens inclosed by the traps, thereby lifting the material 1 contained therein. By reason of there will be a strong outward flow of water from the traps throughthe openings 10,

thereby accelerating themovement of the heavier materials from the traps. In the construction shown in inclusive, the heavier portions of the material being washed are discharged into the secondary compartments B with the water, there being a constant flow of water from the compartment A above the screen into the compartment B. In lieu thereof lwhave shown a' construction in Figs. 5, 6 andi 7, whereby the heavier material is discharged.

into a -compartment C, which is connected by a port 10with thespace above the screensr- This compartment C is connected by a passage 30 with a tube 31, in which is arranged 32, adapted to move the 125.

a screw conveyer heavier material along the tube 31 into the lower end of an elevator 23. from the compartment 0 will flow over the walls 33\into the passages 34 which are connected with the main compartment A below the level of the plunger 11. By this con;

the lower of the level of the'water in the chambers 13,

Figs. 1 to l The water erases struction only Water is returned to the compartment A, the heavy materials being separated in the compartments C from the water; The's'aid compartments B areprovided as-heretofore described, but their principal function in this construction is to provide space into which the water can be r-aised when the lunger descends an amount sufficient to pro uce a water column of sufficient height'to raise the valves 18 of the plunger; In the construction shown in Figs. .5, 6 and 7, the trap for the'heavier materials, is formed by a box 35 preferably extendingfrom one wall of the compartment A towards or"beyond the middle portion of the screen forming the bottom of such compartment. The box or shell forming the trap may or may not be provided w1th openings in its side, but is made vertically movable to afford 'a-space below its lower edge through which the heavier material or slate may pass. This vertical adjustment of the box or shell can be :efi'ected in any suitable manner, as for ex ample by means of screws 36 passing through lugs. secured to the shell, and bearing on a stationary portion of the washer. In practice it is preferred to adjust the inner end of the box or case a little higher than the op- ,Eosite end so that the larger pieces of the eavy materials which sink quickest may pass freely thereinto, the material to be washed being discharged onto the screen -,from the .chute 26, as shown in Fig. 7. In order to prevent a sudden rush of the heavy 'materials through the trap, I provide an adjustable baffle-plate 38, arranged across the trap adjacent to its outer end, and by changging the position of this baffle-plate any thickness of the heavy material may be maintainedon the screen, the material in addition to such thickness being washed along the bed so. prepared for it.

; A desirable construction and arrangement of baffle-plate isshown in Figs. 7 and 8. 45 The bafile is supported by two side plates 39 resting on the screen inside of the sides of the trap and held in proper relative position ,by bolts 40. The position of this battleplate can be shifted as shown, to vary the 50 eight of its upper edge above the screen.

In addition to the intermittent current starting in the space between the plunger and the screen, through the screen and over the front shelf. 6, there is another current maintained that passes also from the space mentioned, through-the screen, but into the ,trap, or .,.traps,. jand; thence ,eitherdirectlyv into-the seaontlery:t omp t t as in v iss- 2,. 3,. orbyovayof-ports into the space-below i'the plunger as inFigs. 5, 6;;and 7'.. ;;-,'l.l 1e

isecondary eompartments, as Well as the space- 4 -b1elow- .,the, ,plunger are. supplied with. water f indirectly ,'-.;that is,- through the leaks around cthewpl lnger, and also through the traps :asf mentioned:v -;.-,Tl 1 e purpose of. the valves in sizes of theheavy material are precipitated 'is lowered onto the screeni u-ntil has clement, will settle ontd these It ischaracteristic of inyirnap )v that, there. is nlalntained a i the plunger is to prevent entire filling of the secondary compartments on thereturn ordown stroke of the piston;- in otherwords, by means of those valves" the-level of the water in these compartments'is lreptat a considerably lower height than that over the screen where it is even, or approximately even, with the overflow shelf. As the'water passes through the traps and secondary into the space below the plunger," thence through the valves in the latteninto-the' space be tween theplunger and the screen, thence through the screen into-thetrap, oritraps, thence again by way of-"ports, or secondary comp artmen ts, into the space below the plunger, and again throughzthc .\*i{l'lVGSE6l1C.iad' 5:1; infinitum there is a continuous circulation of this secondary current and. the purpose ofthis current is to urge. the .onward'Lmove-E ment of the heavy matteruin tlie;-trap,:-: on' traps, to the point whence it moves'by grav ity into a special compartmentnfroinavhicbg it is periodically discharged, or. it drops: into:- some automatic conveying'devicezfrom ivhich it is continuously removed-as 'lonjinstance by a conveying screwcombined withtan' elevator, as shown inwthe several-figures referred to. j, i i..- P It was found duringgthe=;operati0 ,,;o machine as shown in l igs.-;1;,;.2;;3 and :that; if the leakage around the plungcrnis small; a;

that is, that the clearancebetweei the/ledges of the plunger and the-surrounding v Q y the tank is not over a quarte r pfinn inch wide, a difference in the height-of waterlevels up to eight inches can. baanaintainedhe; tween main and secondar of npart ngents;

A trap of the form shown igs., (i gand7' and, if'desired having; gatcss miartg thosg shown on the trap f s l .and,3 ,n ay extend to or beyond thean ddleof fscr but so constructed that either end of it n a. be raised or lowcredinde' endently other, thus ermittmgan adjustannto Mi opening run or the lower ecllge ol {the-shell, conforming to the order in which -the vari on upon the screen. I t will be understood .thosc sk led m the art that the slides 8 are closedmr,thetshell 35,

been an accumulation of heavicr mate l v the screens, as otherwise there would e a, discharge of mixed auaterials throughthe trap at the beginning of the,op erntion. treating coal, the slate bein the he I i bu -Li? treating ore, the, quartz, of; {foreign material :being the lighter, woul washed put and :gassover the shellifi, and the orewould ischarged through. the tra ti fili f, i s' tee was water. and material from tlie'fspa ce ,aboyethe screen out through the ,ltrap,.',but;that1 a pulsatingrmovement is imparted to the water moving om the lower portion of the washer up through the screen, so as to cause a lifting o the load of the screen, thus facilitating the movement of the material towards the discharge ports.

I claim herein as my invention .1. In a machlne for washing coal, ore, etc.,

the combination of a tank having a mainand one or more secondary compartments, the

- main compartment having an outletfor the discharge of light material, a screen arranged transversely of the main compartment below the level of the outlet therefrom, the main and secondary compartments being connected-by open 'portslocated above the screen and permitting a free flow of water from the main to the secondary compartments and means for maintaining a flow of water. up'through the screen and through ports leading to the seconda compartment or compartments, substantia 1y. as set forth.

2. In a machine for washing coal, ore, etc., the combination of a tank having 'a main and one or more secondary compartments, the main compartment havingan outlet for the discharge of light material, a screen arranged transversely of the main compartment, the main and secondary compartments being connected by '0 en ports arranged above andadj acent. to t e screen and means for producing an upward surging of the water in the main compartment and adapted to maintain a constant flow of water from the main compartment unto the secondary compartment, substantially as set forth. I

In a machine for washing coal, ore, etc., the combination of a tank having a-main and one or -more secondary compartments, the

secondary compartments being adapted to receive the heavy material, said main and secondary compartments being connected at the lower ends, a screen arranged transversely of the main compartment, the main and secondary compartment or compartments being connected. by open ports arranged above and adjacentto the screen and means for causing a constant movement of water up through the screen and from the main to the secondary compartments through said port'or ports, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for washing coal, ore, etc., the combination of a tank, a horizontally arranged screen within said tank, atrap having inlet and outlet ports or openings in orapproximately in the plane of the screen, said trap being connected with the tank by an unobstructed passage for the return of Water to the tank, means for causing a pulsating flow of the water through the screen and maintainin the water above the screen at a higher leve than that in the return pas-- sage, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for washing coal, ore, etc., the combination of a tank, a screen arranged transversely of the tank, a trap having its bottom formed by a portion of the screen and'provided withinlet and outlet ports or openings and means for causing a pulsating flowof'the water through the screen and maintaining a constant flow of water through such ports, substantially as set forth.

6. In a' machine for washing coal, ore, etc., the combination of a tank having a main and oneor more secondary compartments, a screen arranged transversely of the main compartment, a trap having its bottom formed by 'a portion of such screen and pro- 7 vided with ports connecting respectively w ith the main and secondary compartments and arranged adjacent to the screens, and means for producing a pulsat ng but constant flow of the water up through the main compartment and the trap and into the sec ondary compartment, substantially as set forth.

.7. In a machine for washing coal, ore, etc.,

the combination of-a tank having a main and one or more secondary compartments connected at the lower ends,- screens arranged transversely of the main compartment, a

trap having its bottom formed by a portion of said screen and provided with ports comports communicating respectively with the.

main and secondary compartments, a plunger movable vertically 1n the mam compartment below the screen and provided with up-.

wardly opening valves, means for deliveri a supply ofwater between the screen an plungen'fsairl means and plunger being adaptedgto maintain a constant, but pulsating flow of water through the screen and trap into thesecondar'y compartment. I

9. In a machine for washmg coal, ore, etc.,

the combination of a tank having a main compartment and a secondary compartment connected to the upper and lower ends of the main compartment, a screen arranged transversely of the main compartment, a trap having its bottom formed by a portion of said screen and connected u ith the main-and secondary compartments, a plunger for forcing water up through the screen; said plunger having valves adapted to open on the return movement of the plunger, and a supply 'pipe'fi linectedJj-p .the ccimpartand means fo lvca tising a. flow of water up 10 mentinterm'ediate'qfithe screenand plunger: through the screen. v

10. In- 'a" furv washing coal, re, In testimopy whereof, I have hereunto set am, the gombinatliou Ff tang-31K}, a'scliiellll'army hand;

i'mnged'tmsve'me'otet' ,ase'arrkngedpabb'ye the creenmid provided with ALFRED DIESCHER- an outlet an adjustable .bpflie, plate arranged -Witnesses:

thq trap formed by the' screen, means CHARLES BARNETT,

fqr mowingthe shell mlativeto thq screen, I J. HERBERTBRADLEYL- 

